Why you shouldn't call your OS "Linux"

[sss0]

Many times someone mentions their operating system is "Linux"

What you're referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX.

Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called "Linux", and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project.

There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called "Linux" distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux.

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[qwerty12]

Gah, I'm reminded of the 4chan copypasta... :p

I agree, though, because people tend to call, say, Android Linux because of the kernel - and they'd be right - but with Android's Bionic and the awful "toolbox", it's nowhere near a GNU userland - which most people automatically include when they talk of Linux as an OS

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[sss0]

Exactly!
When you say you use Linux, it would mean you can either be using GNU/Linux (openSUSE, Ubuntu, Arch, Gentoo, etc) or using a Apache/Linux (Android) or even Linux-based firmwares + libraries (used on several routers).
Another argument I thought of this days, is Debian. It has a Debian GNU/Linux and a Debian GNU/kFreeBSD. The userland is the same and they are both identical regarding its looks, however, Debian GNU/kFreeBSD contains 0% Linux!
So, what I liked to emphasize is that you should remember that Linux is just a kernel and NOT an operating system. Most of the time, even though not exclusively, you'd rather use GNU/Linux.

[m0skit0]

You mean this

[sss0]

You mean this

In essence I mean that, but I believe I've given different arguments. (ambiguity and unclearness when calling it just by the kernel name)

[m0skit0]

Also you should put a more descriptive title to your thread. That title tells nothing...

[sss0]

Also you should put a more descriptive title to your thread. That title tells nothing...

Done

[codestation]

So, what I liked to emphasize is that you should remember that Linux is just a kernel and NOT an operating system. Most of the time, even though not exclusively, you'd rather use GNU/Linux.

Is good that people know the difference between the kernel and the rest of the OS, but IMHO just throwing GNU at the name is just as wrong when there are big parts of the OS that aren't made by the GNU those days.

For example my desktop environment, windowing system, compiler, init system, libc and shell aren't made by the GNU, so calling it BSD/Linux or BSD/X11/MIT/Apache Linux seems stupid too. Personally i just prefer to use <distro_name> Linux or just <distro_name>.

[sss0]

or just <distro_name>.

Using just the Distro name wouldn't be always useful.
For example, by saying Debian, you could be referring to: Debian with the GNU userland and Linux kernel, Debian with the GNU userland and FreeBSD kernel or Debian with the GNU userland and HURD kernel.
Perhaps saying GNU/Linux is actually not ideal and rather dull, but it's better than calling your operating system a kernel.

[m0skit0]

it's not only because it has GNU software. It's also because if no GNU, no Linux would be available. GNU set up a precedent and also made such UNIX tools available for free and free to modify as well. I support GNU/Linux name, as does Debian, which is the most open distro all around.